Semi official cool old Indy car pics thread

[indyrjc]

I think the IRL racing future would be very promising if the new-to-be-unveiled chassis looked a lot more like that Ruby '71 or Hobbs '71 then they will. (bulkier in the middle for driver safety however)

Great thread. Thanks in particular to the photo contributors.

So long as there only is a single approved chassis the IRL will struggle if not disappear completely in a few years. Indianapolis racing was built on variety (that's what this thread is all about). That's why people still take the time to visit the IMS Hall of Fame Museum. It's no coincidence that Indy racing has continued to go downhill in this latest era of spec racing.

Now, back to seeing photos of the many and varied cars that made the Indianapolis 500 what it was.

[Coyote]

I agree with variety and innovative race cars within the rules. (When the cars of recent years hit the thread we'll just be seeing different paint jobs... ) I'm just sayin' also take off the wings and/or otherwise reduce the downforce.

Yes, back on topic.

[chaparral 2k]

One of my favorite cars. I wonder if this was taken during the Rex Mays 150 weekend? If so that car was going to be in winners circle soon
I would love to have a model of this car.

I can't imagine hitting a concrete wall (not a soft wall) at 200+ mph in basically an oversized aluminum soda can.
David.

[DaveL]

Oddly enough, both cars suffered gear failure during the 1971 500. Turned out that Hewland was using lower grade steel in their gears than had been requested.

I don't know about that. Hobbs was taken out of the race when Rick Muther t-boned him from out of no where on the front stretch. It was not one of Rick's finer moments.

[racefanindy]

Hobbs is quoted in the Mark Donohue book about that accident. He said the gears broke & locked up the transmission in the Lola coming off turn 4. Muther was behind him & had no where to go. All of a sudden he saw the bottom of Muthers car going past him.

BTW: If you are a fan of Mark Donohue or Penske Racing during the Donohue era, this is a really good book!

[DaveL]

Hobbs is quoted in the Mark Donohue book about that accident. He said the gears broke & locked up the transmission in the Lola coming off turn 4. Muther was behind him & had no where to go. All of a sudden he saw the bottom of Muthers car going past him.

So that's why Muther lost control so abruptly. I guess that makes sense. Thanks.

[indyguy2]

The "Batmobile" remains my all time favorite car in terms of appearance. In the early 80's I didn't follow Indy cars much beyond Indy. I was young. I'd like to know how this machine did on other tracks beyond IMS. Did it race on any road courses? Did Danny have any wins or good finishes?

+1

[tnindyman]

[QUOTE=racefanindy]Cool pics! The 1971 McLarens are still one of my favorite Indy cars. Sleek wedge design & beautifully prepared by both Team McLaren & Penske Racing.

Kinda like the lines of the '68 Lotus 56.

[Ovalmeister]

Al Unser Indy 83.

[Ovalmeister]

Dick Simon and Al Unser Michigan 83.

[Ovalmeister]

Al Unser, Roger Mears and Tony Bettenhausen. Indy 83.

[Ovalmeister]

Tom Sneva and Mike Mosley. Michigan 83.

[BSJracing]

The "Batmobile" remains my all time favorite car in terms of appearance. In the early 80's I didn't follow Indy cars much beyond Indy. I was young. I'd like to know how this machine did on other tracks beyond IMS. Did it race on any road courses? Did Danny have any wins or good finishes?

not originally designed for a cosworth
linkie

[DaveL]

Tom Sneva and Mike Mosley. Michigan 83.

The difference in the rear wings really stands out. Sneva's wing has a much shorter cord, and the end plates are smaller.

Ah the good ol' days when the teams and drivers decided how much wing to run and not the series.

[DaveL]

Al Unser, Roger Mears and Tony Bettenhausen. Indy 83.

Another good example of the differences in rear wings. Both Mears and Unser are in Penske chassis (albeit not exactly the same model), but look at the difference in the rear wings. Mears has a big wing with a long cord. Unser has a much smaller wing with totally different end plates.

I love this thread's celebration of diversity which was the result of free markets and private property.

[indyrjc]

Another good example of the differences in rear wings. Both Mears and Unser are in Penske chassis (albeit not exactly the same model), but look at the difference in the rear wings. Mears has a big wing with a long cord. Unser has a much smaller wing with totally different end plates.

I love this thread's celebration of diversity which was the result of free markets and private property.

In that photo are a PC-11, a PC-10, and a 83 March. Although it changed year to year many teams in those days bought year old cars sometimes at less than 1/2 of the original cost. No, they weren't going to win races but they weren't any less competitive than most of today's teams are with supposedly identical (and very expensive) equipment. Some of the smaller teams could own their own Cosworth engine for around $30K and overhaul them every 2 or 3 races for about $10K. Now, these weren't the front runners but they did get to run the entire circuit. I know of one fairly well known team that got second hand engine parts from the big teams and built their own engines in house while running the entire circuit. No they didn't come close to winning a race and mostly ran toward the back. But they actually made a small profit for the year.

[DaveL]

In that photo are a PC-11, a PC-10, and a 83 March. Although it changed year to year many teams in those days bought year old cars sometimes at less than 1/2 of the original cost. No, they weren't going to win races but they weren't any less competitive than most of today's teams are with supposedly identical (and very expensive) equipment.

That's one reason why car counts were never really an issue. Low-buck teams always had access to good, year old cars that could be bought in the aftermarket at a discount. "Chassis cycles" wiped out the aftermarket and car counts have suffered as a result.

[Rick Jones]

That's one reason why car counts were never really an issue. Low-buck teams always had access to good, year old cars that could be bought in the aftermarket at a discount. "Chassis cycles" wiped out the aftermarket and car counts have suffered as a result.

Dave, you are right on the mark with this point.

[Joonyah]

Al Unser, Roger Mears and Tony Bettenhausen. Indy 83.

Look on Al's car where it says "UNSER" and you'll find ABC's first use of an in-car camera during the Indy 500 race broadcast.

[ZOOOM]

What an EYE!
Nice pick up.
I would have never noticed.

ZOOOM

[indyrjc]

Look on Al's car where it says "UNSER" and you'll find ABC's first use of an in-car camera during the Indy 500 race broadcast.

And nobody worried about whether or not there was kind of a aerodynamic disadvantage to running a camera stuck to the side of the car. Everybody just raced.

[mlv]

And nobody worried about whether or not there was kind of a aerodynamic disadvantage to running a camera stuck to the side of the car. Everybody just raced.

Bill Alsup was a "guinea pig" for NBC-TV in 81-82. The combination of camera, transmitter and powerpack weighed around 20 pounds.

Lewis Franck image from 1983 CART annual.

[Joonyah]

What an EYE!
Nice pick up.
I would have never noticed.

ZOOOM

I've seen enough pics of the car to know its there. Pretty good idea by ABC to finally get that going on cars.

[flatlander_48]

And nobody worried about whether or not there was kind of a aerodynamic disadvantage to running a camera stuck to the side of the car. Everybody just raced.

They just didn't know. Can't remember now, but this first popped up when the camera pod was found to make a positive difference (F-1, NASCAR?). After that, everyone in the series got a camera pod, regardless of whether it had anything in it...

[schraderfan]

Bill Alsup was a "guinea pig" for NBC-TV in 81-82. The combination of camera, transmitter and powerpack weighed around 20 pounds.

Lewis Franck image from 1983 CART annual.

"[benny parsons'] camera adds 20 lbs. to the car" - david hobbs, 1980 daytona 500. benny had no problem with it however.

[flatlander_48]

"[benny parsons'] camera adds 20 lbs. to the car" - david hobbs, 1980 daytona 500. benny had no problem with it however.

Yes, but remember when one in Dale Jarrett's car shorted out and put him out of a Cup race?

[Ovalmeister]

Indy 1983, turn 2.
Unser, Bettenhausen, Unser, Holmes, Andretti, Carter and Snider.

[Ovalmeister]

Indy 1983, turn 2.
Whittington, Ongais, Daly, Brabham, Chandler, Brayton, Kniefel, Firestone, Krisiloff and Fillip.

[Ovalmeister]

Indy 1983.
Johncock, Andretti and Holmes.

[Ovalmeister]

Michigan 1983.
Sneva and Fabi.